I Love You Valentine's Day Dinner

Valentine’s Day is the perfect night to serve a dinner just for the two of you. Clear your calendar, turn on the answering machine and indulge yourselves! If both of you enjoy cooking, make the meal together.

Chocolate Berry Cheesecake

Valentine's Day Dinner Menu Spicy Orange Pork Chops or Cornmeal Chicken with Peach Salsa Silky Garlic Mashed Potatoes Broccoli with Pine Nuts Champagne or sparkling grape juice* Chocolate Berry Cheesecake * Recipe is not included

Make it Special!

• Place a small table for two (you may want to use a table other than your dining room table) next to the fireplace, by a window with a beautiful nighttime view or in some other cozy spot.  Put a white or cream lace tablecloth on the table.
• Place scented candles on the table and around the room.  Decorate the table with tiny foil-wrapped chocolate hearts or valentine-theme confetti (available at party supply stores or card shops).
• Buy two red or pink cloth napkins and two napkin rings to use for your special dinner for two.  After arranging the napkins in the rings, tuck a mini carnation or rosebud and a little baby’s breath into each ring. 
• Cut two heart shapes from red construction paper and two slightly larger hearts from white paper doilies.  Glue the red hearts onto the white ones.  Place a heart by each place setting.  During dinner, take turns writing three things you love about the other person on a heart.  Then exchange and read them!
• Tie ribbons around the stem of two champagne glasses.  Place a raspberry or two in each glass, and fill with chilled champagne.  Make a very special toast to the one you love!

Preparation Guide

The Day Before or Earlier

• Purchase napkins and napkin rings.
• Construct paper hearts.
• Tie ribbons around champagne glasses.
• Chill the champagne or sparkling grape juice.

The Day of

• Prepare the Chocolate Berry Cheesecake, or purchase bakery desserts.
• Set the table; decorate with candles, heart candies or confetti.  Arrange napkins in napkin rings.
• Prepare the Spicy Orange Pork Chops (do not bake); cover and refrigerate.  Or prepare the Peach Salsa for the Cornmeal Chicken with Peach Salsa; cover and refrigerate.

One Hour Before

• Prepare the Sliky Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
• Bake the Spicy Orange Pork Chops, or remove Peach Salsa from refrigerator to warm to room temperature.
• Add flowers to napkin rings.

20 Minutes Before

• Prepare the Broccoli with Pine Nuts.
• Prepare the Cornmeal Chicken (if not baking pork chops).